Oil well swab



June 10, 1969 M. asrowE OIL WELL SWAB Filed Oct. 21, 1966 INVENTOR Milton 6. Stow e ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 277-181 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An oil well swab having a generally cup-shaped molded body formed of neoprene, or other like resilient material, and reinforced by wire stays spaced circumferentially and arranged longitudinally of the body and having their lowermost ends bent inwardly and outwardly and retained in radial arrangement by an anchor ring having a series of apertures therein to receive the lower ends of the stays at the bends therein and having an adjacent stabilizing ring formed with circumferentially spaced indentations which embrace the lowermost outwardly bent portions of the stays whereby to retain these members in proper alignment and against rotation while the cup body is molded.

This invention relates to well swabs formed of resilient materials, such as neoprene, reinforced with a series of stays embedded therein.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a base structure for supporting the reinforcing stays in proper spaced alignment, and against rotation, during the molding process and to insure a uniform embodiment thereof in the finished product.

This invention relates to a well swab rubber unit, and it has particular reference to certain specific improvements in the structure of a reinforced swab rubber unit of a type which is generally well known, for use singly or with other like units in a well swab adapted to be lowered into a well tubing, as in an oil well, for lifting well fluids to the surface.

The invention concerns a swab rubber unit for use as described which includes an annular, generally cupshaped molded body which is formed of neoprene or other like resilient material, and which in use is received on a tubular mandrel arranged centrally thereof, concentrically and coaxially of the well tubing. The molded rubber or neoprene body has a plurality of elongated reinforcing wires or stays which are spaced circumferentially relative to the body and extend longitudinally thereof, and which are embedded in the material of the body and extend upwardly above it.

One of the problems encountered in molding the body, where stays, or reinforcing elements are used, is that of maintaining these elements in proper axial alignment. Each of the reinforcing elements are shaped to curve inwardly near their upper ends, and their lowermost ends are bent inwardly and outwardly, and in common practice, retained in radial arrangement by an anchor ring having a series of apertures therein through which the lower ends of the elements are inserted and are free to rotate to some degree While the body material is applied thereto.

A prime object of the invention is that of providing an improved swab rubber structure as described in which the reinforcing wires are positively secured in proper alignment, and are secured against rotation about their respective axes during molding operations.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a base ring, an anchor ring, having a series of holes therein, on the base ring, and a stabilizing ring, positioned on the base ring immediately below the anchor ring, in juxtaposed relation thereto, having a plurality of cir- 3,448,987 Patented June 10, 1969 cumferentially spaced indentations, each corresponding to one of the holes in the first mentioned ring, extending radially inwardly from its outer peripheral edge for engagement by the extreme lower end portions of the reinforcing stays, respectively, to prevent the stays from turning in said holes and to positively secure them in non-rotative positions, in which they are properly aligned, while molding the resilient body material thereon.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become apparent as the description proceeds, when considered in connection with the appended drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partly in section taken on a median line, of a swab rubber unit embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan 'view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view showing one side of the anchor connecting ring in a detached position thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view showing one side of the stabilizing ring in a detached position thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of a base ring, on which the anchor ring and stabilizing ring are supported as hereinafter described, in a detached position thereof.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a retaining ring, which coacts with the base ring to secure the anchor ring and the stabilizing ring in position.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 1111 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale showing the lower end portion of one of the reinforcing wires in a detached position thereof, and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view on an enlarged scale, taken on a median line, showing fragmentarily the anchor and stabilizing rings, the base ring, and the retaining ring in their assembled positions, and showing one of the reinforcing wires in place.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3 of the drawing, the numeral 10 designates generally a swab rubber unit embodying the invention.

The swab rubber unit 10 includes an annular, generally cup shaped molded body, indicated generally by the numeral 11, which is formed of rubber, neoprene, or other like resilient material, and which in use is received on a tubular mandrel (not shown) arranged centrally thereof, concentrically and coaxially of a well tubing (not shown) in which a well swab including the swab rubber unit 10 is operatively positioned.

The molded body 11 has a plurality of elongated reinforcing wires or stays 12 which are spaced circumferentially relative to the body 11 and extend longitudinally thereof, and which are embedded in the material of the body 11, as indicated at 13, and extend upwardly above it, curving inwardly and radially, and having a coating of the body material.

The reinforcing stays 12 are bent angularly, as at 14, adjacent their lower ends, which are passed through a series of apertures 15 therefor in a metal ring 16, shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, which is embedded in the material of the body '11. The portions of the respective stays 12 corresponding to the inside of the bend 14 are engaged by the metal ring 16, which serves as an anchor and pivot therefor, and the portions thereof immediately above and below the ring 16, on opposite sides of the bend 14, are inclined radially outwardly, in opposite directions, as

shown in FIGURE 13. Such an arrangement is conventional.

According to the invention a stabilizer ring 17, shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, is positioned immediately below the ring 16 which is superimposed thereon, as shown in FIGURE 13. The stabilizer ring 17 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches or indentations 18, each corresponding to one of the apertures 15 in the anchor ring 16, extending radially inwardly from its outer peripheral edge for engagement by the extreme lower end portions of the reinforcing stays 12, respectively, which are directed outwardly and radially, as best shown in FIG- URE 13, to prevent the latter from turning in the apertures 15 and to positively secure them in rotative positions in which they are properly aligned.

As shown in FIGURES 13, the rings 16 and 17 are clamped between a shoulder 19 formed on a base ring 20, which comprises the lowermost portion of the swab rubber unit 10, and a retaining ring 21 which surrounds a reduced upper end portion 22 of the base ring 20, above the shoulder 19, and is welded thereto, as at 23. The base ring 20 may be coated internally and externally in the molding process by the body material, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The invention may be modified within certain limitations by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a swab rubber unit having an annular cup-shaped molded body reinforced by a plurality of circumferentially spaced stays embedded therein, the combination comprising: a metal base ring having a reduced upper portion defining an annular shoulder therearound, an

anchor ring, having an annular arrangement of spaced holes therein, embracing the reduced portion of said base ring, a stabilizer ring on said shoulder below said anchor ring and having a series of peripheral indentations corresponding to and aligned with the series of holes in said anchor ring, a retainer ring for said anchor ring and said stabilizer ring welded to said reduced portion of said base ring, each of said stays having its lower end bent inwardly and outwardly at obtuse angles and embraced by one of the holes in said anchor ring at the bight of said bend whereby the lowermost angular ends of said stays are engaged in the indentations in said stabilizer ring to rotatively immobilize said stays during the molding operation.

2. In a well swab unit as described in claim 1, the said base ring, the stabilizer and anchor rings, and said retainer ring being embedded as a unit in the resilient material of said body.

3. In a well swab unit as described in claim 2, the said reinforcing stays having their upper ends curved inwardly and radially above the upper end of said body and having a resilient coating thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,965,422 12/1960 Wilson 277-181 3,346,267 10/1967 Farley 277--2l2 SAMUEL ROTHBERG, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

